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So, I have spent way to many hours today shopping for replacement radiator hoses. Maybe I am overthinking this but I cannot seem to find anything that matches the diameters and lengths I currently have. I am needing to replace both the upper and lower hose. Can someone recommend the best place to obtain these? What hoses have you found that have worked? Also, while we are on this topic....should I replace springs/coils in the hoses as well? Both my current ones have them. On a similar topic should I replace the thermostat as well since I already have it pulled out? I don't want to spend a bunch of extra money but if this is good preventative maintenance I will go ahead and get a new one. Many thanks in advance.
Oops, sorry about leaving that critical information off- a bonehead oversight on my part.
1974 F100 Ranger XLT 360 2WD Trailer Special C6 w/AC (although AC is currently non working and disconnected. I am inclined to say the radiator has not been replaced but I have no way of knowing that for sure.
So what sizes are not being repoped? I just went to Auyozone gave them the 390 specs and got their best hoses. Compared to my old ones and no problem. The lower is almost short, but I was thinking of adding a Stainless tubing for most of it instead. That leaves just the bends as rubber.
First on the springs if your lower hose now has one the new hose will most likely WILL NOT have it so you will need to move it over to the new hose.
ALL hoses on the suction side of the pump will need a spring to keep in from collapsing and stopping flow.
I have not been able to find just the spring for the lower hose if missing from the PO.
No need for a spring on the out let side of pump as it will not collapse.
I have found all robbed hoses have springs because they may be used on the suction side.
I used a spring from a ribbed hose and installed it in my lower hose .... what a job!
spring pulled from ribbed hose needs to go in that curved hose.
As was posted if the truck has a factory cooling system you should be able to hit any parts store for hoses, they may need to order them.
That ribbed hose is just a universal hose. Measure the radiator & stat openings and how long that hose is and should be able to find that.
You could do the same for the lower hose just make sure it has a spring.
Just me but I don't like using ribbed hoses so I would try what someone posted, use the curved part of the hose and a short pipe to make it longer.
Exh. pipe will work and should not rust on the inside if running anti-freeze, paint the out side and move on.
As for the stat I would replace it being you have the system drained. I drill an 1/8" hole in the washer part of the stat to let air thru to help in burping the system of air.
For you make sure the hole is to the top.
Reminds me my system is drained again I should pick up a new stat & gasket.
Dave ----
As an amendment, if you can find the correct bends in silicon it would be the way to go. Tubing would be SS ideally with a muffler bender produced bead for hose retention. I myself am still trying to get the right bends for mine.
I haven't been running a lower spring since 2005 and I haven't had issues. Every 300 I've ever bought that came with the radiator hose still attached (so all but one) didn't have the spring. I would say it's a non-issue on anything that doesn't have the bypass circuit plugged.
Additionally, any 80-96 lower radiator hose should work in any 80-96 application of the same vehicle (i.e. truck hose fits trucks, van hose fits vans). The lower outlet never changed location enough to matter throughout that time.
You can get the spring from Mustang "CJ Pony" if no where else. Ford put them in for a reason, may have been extreme operating conditions but the engineer's got it past the bean counters.
